#18 in our continuing series of reviews of every miniature golf course within an hour or so of the CRUST (Capital Region of UpSTate New York).
The location of this course definitely deserves five stars, as the "Grand View" is a terrific vista of the Great Sacandaga Lake across to the mountains, and the course is a somewhat mundane but reasonably kept-up smaller-sized putting course in the upper end of the three-star range.
You do have to make this a destination: its at the end of a cul de sac road down a peninsula, adjacent to the Grand View Marina (owned by the owners of this golf course, although the course operation is outsourced) and the Northampton DEC campsite. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, only weekends through July 4th, hours seem to vary a bit so it would pay to check the website if you're making a special trip.
Golf $7 for adults, $6 for kids, add $3 for a "play all day" option, puts it in the slightly above average pricing range. The "clubhouse" has only standard ice cream novelties from a freezer (no soft serv) and a soda cooler, and the bathroom is a portapotty on the outside. The facility is a prefab building plopped down in front of the course and doesn't quite blend in to the setting. There are a couple of picnic tables outside and a very small deck, so you can enjoy your after-round drinks.
The course is set among tall pines, which is lovely - shady but breezy, and doesn't obscure the views (although the layout around a couple of artificial hills does on some holes). The usual problem with pine courses is pine needles, and they are doing a very decent job of keeping the needles and trash off. There are a few maintenance nits to pick - a couple of stretches of astroturf needing replacing due to wear, discoloration, or a few bumps, and the use of unattached pavers as boundaries is both a small hazard (they will move if kicked or stepped on) and a bit annoying for rebounds. The flowers and plantings are nicely kept up it not particularly unique.
The course itself, as noted, is a putt-only, without a "schtick" or novelty hazards. The holes are named after local streets, although you would only know that from the scorecard - there are no signs up showing the hole names, and only the "Bridge Street" hole (#17) has any relation to the name. Hazards are higher "rough" turf, rocks, and dolphins/pilings, with two holes having water hazard in play. There are two fountain-mountains, fairly standard, with running water, although the pools were a bit muddy they were at least bubbly and pleasant. The holes aren't exactly cookie-cutter, but are mostly familiar. The latter half have a number of uphills that may be frustrating for younger players, and the play-testing aspect is a little low: holes with a couple of alternatives do not seem to have "pay offs" with holes in one or better placement for better skill shots, and the paver-rebound issue is a problem for making bank and rebound shots. Holes that stand out are: #5 (a water hazard with a surprising twist - if you hit it INTO the water in one particular place, you get dumped close to the hole), and #17, despite the fact playing it one way is far better than playing it another way. Those are the kinds of holes that are delightful the first time but once you get the trick, the novelty is only so sustaining. The holes have flags, a plus in our book, although no flag-holders to put them in while you're shooting.
The current operators are a very pleasant family, although the place is "for rent" so we'll see who takes over the place.
Bottom line is it's a very pleasant course for a one-off visit because of the extremely pleasant view, but without amenities or course-challenges to lure back the repeat player. I do recommend a side trip if you're in the area and are a mini-golf maven. read more